Study and travel at your own pace—according to your own plan!
This unique study abroad program has allowed hundreds of students to chart their own course to Europe since 1963. You will have the satisfaction of planning your own project; carrying out research in a European country of your choice; living, learning and traveling independently; and creating a final project that will very likely be the highlight of your academic career at UWRF.
Create a project based on what interests you.
The written research project lies at the heart of SA: Europe . You will develop the project during the spring semester with the help of a faculty project advisor in a particular area of study. This advisor and the SA: Europe staff will help you shape the scope of your study and assist you in making overseas contacts prior to your trip to Europe in the fall. When you arrive in Europe, you will be fully prepared to spend eight to ten weeks focusing on your topic.
Each project is unique and requires an individualized approach to conducting research. Some of the methods that SA: Europe participants use to gather their information in Europe include: conducting personal interviews with contacts, using specialized materials at libraries and museums, doing volunteer work for organizations, and auditing a class or classes at a local university.
SA: Europe participants have done projects in almost every discipline
taught on campus. You can develop a completely new and unique project or
explore a new approach to a topic that has been done previously. 
Here are a few general topics from recent participants:
- geology of the Isle of Skye (Scotland)
- art education and outreach into the community (Austria)
- internship with a non-profit women's organization (Spain)
- in-depth study of Gothic architecture (France)
- sustainable development in an urban setting (Denmark)
- folk culture of Inishmore (Ireland)
- marketing trends for popular music (Great Britain)
- training methods for search & rescue dogs (Germany)
- implementation of robotic milking systems on a dairy farm (Netherlands)
…and the list goes on and on.
Be a European “insider.”
Imagine being able to spend eight to ten weeks in one country as a temporary “insider” rather than a tourist. You will return from Europe not only with a deeper understanding of your research topic but also with a unique insight into a foreign culture. You will have experienced that culture firsthand, every day, in a thousand different ways--buying warm baguettes at the corner bakery, riding the local tram through town, speaking with a museum guide about your research topic, or picking up some fresh yogurt and fruit from the “mom and pop” grocery down the street.
To prepare you to get the most out of your immersion in European culture in the fall, you will attend a series of International Study Seminar meetings during the preceding spring semester. These meetings, held on Tuesday evenings, will cover research skills, health and safety issues, travel tips, and cultural information.
Be part of a group of individualists.
The
focus of SA: Europe is on you, your independent project and
your travel plans. However, you also have the comfort of knowing that
you belong to a group of individualists—UW-River Falls students all
over Europe who are going through the same learning and life experiences
as you. The entire group meets in Paris for several days at the beginning
of September to prepare to travel to their research locations. In November,
after most or all of the research has been completed, the group gathers
again for a three-day meeting in Levanto on the Italian Riviera. It's
a great opportunity to share your experiences of the past several weeks,
exchange travel tips, and map out your travel plans for the remaining
time in Europe.
On your own—with support
SA: Europe allows you to live and work independently; however,
you will also be staying in contact with the group leader--an SA: Europe
staff member who remains in Europe throughout the fall to provide
support, encouragement and advice. He or she will also visit you at your
research location to discuss your project. The group leader is committed
to helping you have a successful and rewarding experience abroad. 
Learn through travel, as well as through study.
After completing your research and attending the group meeting in early November, you are free to travel until the return flight home in mid-December. By this time you will have developed the travel skills and practical “know how” to take full advantage of your remaining time in Europe. Do you want to spend some time exploring Prague? Maybe a week in a village in Tuscany? Hiking in Switzerland? It's up to you. In addition to traveling, many students wisely use this time to start writing their project papers.
So now that you're interested, here's the nitty gritty:
I. International Study Seminar (Spring Semester & Mid-Summer Meeting)
- Twelve two-hour meetings on Tuesday nights & pre-departure
meeting in July
- Preparation of a research project
- Orientation to European culture
- Preparation for independent, meaningful travel
- Evaluation and re-entry sessions upon return
II. Semester Abroad (approximately 5 September - 15 December)
- One-week group stay in Paris
- Eight to ten week research period
- Three-day group meeting in November
- Four to six weeks of independent travel
- Writing and submission of the research project (generally after
the return to the U.S.A.)
UW-River Falls students may apply to SA: Europe if they have an overall grade point average of 2.25 or higher, are not on academic probation, and have achieved Junior status (earned at least 60 credits before departure for Europe). Attendance at the Tuesday night International Study Seminar meetings during Spring Semester is a prerequisite for traveling to Europe in the fall.
Students register for 12-15 credits for the fall semester: six credit hours in a specific subject area (usually counting as electives toward a major or minor) and six hours of general electives or liberal arts credits. Students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher may arrange for three additional credits of independent study.
What kind of accommodations will I have?
Students make a variety of living arrangements while in Europe. Many stay
in youth hostels or inexpensive family-run hotels. Some rent small,
furnished apartments on a weekly or monthly basis. Others arrange accommodation
th
rough
project contacts often resulting in home stays.
The total cost to participate in SA: Europe -- including tuition, airfare, travel and living expenses, etc.-- is approximately $9000. Of course, your individual lifestyle will determine how much money you will need in Europe. Any financial aid that applies toward your on-campus tuition can also be used for this program. In fact the Office of Financial Assistance recognizes that students in study abroad programs often have a higher level of need, and it can offer you additional aid. Special loans and scholarships are also available for study abroad.
The following expenses are paid before you leave. These costs vary slightly from year to year:
Tuition (WI resident), Insurance and International Programs Fee $3100
Air Fare, Paris Stay, November meeting $1100
Rail Pass (there are many different choices) $800 - $1500
We recommend that students have at least $4000 to pay their expenses while in Europe. Most students take a combination of travelers' checks, bank debit or credit cards, and cash.
Join SA: Europe and create the study and travel experience of your lifetime.
For more information please contact any of the Semester Abroad: Europe staff:
|
Brad Gee (Co-Director) |
Dr. Magdalena Pala (Co-Director) |
|
Dr. Dennis Cooper |
Dr. Lynn Jermal |
|
Dr. Kerry Keen (2009 Group Leader) |
Dr. Ian Williams (2008 Group Leader) |
   |